John Aubrey Nunn MC

{{Infobox | name = John Aubrey Nunn MC

| title = | above = | subheader =

| image = | caption = | image2 = | caption2 =

|headerstyle  = background:#ccf;
|labelstyle   = background:#ddf;
|datastyle    = 

| header1 = Personal Information

| label2 = Date of Birth | data2 = 29 Oct 1883

| label3 = Place of Birth | data3 = Sydney, New South Wales

| label4 = Death | data4 =

| label5 = Place of Death | data5 =

| label6 = Age at Enlistment | data6 = 32 years, 7 months

| label7 = Description | data7 =

| label8 = Occupation | data8 = licensed surveyor

| label9 = Religion | data9 = Church of England

| label10 = Address | data10 = NOK Goldsmith road, Claremont, Western Australia

| label11 = Next of Kin | data11 = Wife Mrs Rose Patience May Nunn

| header12 = Military Information

| label13 = Reg Number | data13 =

| label14 = Date of Enlistment | data14 = 1 Apr 1916

| label15 = Rank | data15 = Captain

| label16 = Unit/Formation | data16 = 3rd Pioneer Battalion

| label17 = Date of Embarkation | data17 = 6 Jun 1916 - 26 Jul 1916

| label18 = Ship Embarked On | data18 = HMAT A62 Wandilla

| label19 = Date of Return | data19 = 1 May - 15 Jul 1919

| label20 = Ship Returned On | data20 = [[SS China}}

| label21 = Fate | data21 = Wounded in Action 22 Aug 1918

| label22 = Monument | data22 = Banjup War Memorial

| label23 = Medals | data23 = Military Cross
British War Medal
Victory Medal

}}

Pre War

Had served with both Artillery (4 years as a Senior Cadet) and 6 months as a provisional Lieutenant in the Infantry of the Citizens Military Forces prior to enlistment.

War Service

Following enlistment as a Temporary 2nd lieutenant, John was sent to Victoria to complete his training as he embarked for England from Melbourne. Appointed Lieutenant soon after his enlistment, and promoted to Captain on 1 May 1916.

While with the 3rd Pioneers at Larkhill, England he was posted to the Pioneer Training School in Reading from 24 Oct - 16 Nov 1916, and after his rejoining the battalion they were sent overseas to France on 24 Nov 1916.

On 11 Mar 1917 he was again seconded to the Pioneer Training Battalion in Britain before returning to France through Southampton on 5 Oct 1917, rejoining his battalion on 12 Oct 1917. He was granted leave in Paris from 11 - 18 Jan 1918, and then on 14 Feb 1918 he was granted leave in England, rejoining the battalion on 1 Mar 1918. This was followed by another detachment to the Royal Engineers Training School in Rouen from 6 Jul till 4 Aug 1918 when he rejoined the 3rd Pioneer Battalion.

On 22 Aug 1918 John was wounded in Action when the battalion was used as infantry in what was their first occasion being used in an offensive strike, an attack on German lines near Bray, south of the Somme River.

He had received what was described as a 'slight' chest wound, and was admitted first to the 10th Australian Field Ambulance who passed him on to the 47 Casualty Clearing Station the same day, then loaded aboard the 11th Hospital Train for the 8th General Hospital in Rouen where he arrived on 2 Aug 1918.

Transferred from hospital to a Base Depot on 4 Sep 1918, he was able to rejoin his Pioneer Battalion on 10 Sep 1918, two days after a 3rd Division Special Order was published awarding him the Military Cross.

Granted another leave in England on 16 Sep 1918, he returned to France on 10 Oct 1918, before yet another leave period in England from 23 Feb - 22 Mar 1919. On 1 Apr 1919 he returned to England one last time from France, this time to prepare for his return to Australia which followed soon after.

John's appointment was terminated on 15 Jul 1919.

Award Commentary

Awarded the Military Cross. For conspicuous devotion to duty when east of Hamel in repairing roads under heavy shell fire immediately after the Infantry advance to enable the guns to advance.

The officially published version is slightly different:

For conspicuous gallantry and ability during an attack. He succeeded in repairing a road under heavy fire, and so allowed the artillery to be brought into action. It was mainly due to his energy and example that an important piece of work was completed.

Notes

On the Banjup Memorial as H Nunn. No one by that name enlisted in WA. Total of 5 x Nunn enlistments in WA, with only one being Wounded in Action.